Lifeboat Foundation

The new robot can unfold from an ingestible capsule and operate inside the stomach.

(Medical Xpress)—A large team of researchers from a host of research facilities across Japan has found some genetic variants in some cancer cells that lead to enhanced PD-L1 protein production—which results in increased protection against attacks by the immune system. In their paper published in the journal Nature, the team describes their sequencing study involving adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma cases, what they found and the possibility that such variants could be used as identifying markers in cancer patients.

Prior studies have shown that an increase in the expression of the protein PD-L1 by cancer cells confers enhanced protection against attacks by the human immune system—PD-1 receptors on T cells bind with PD-L1 causing the immune cells to become unresponsive, preventing them from attacking tumors. In this new effort, the researchers conducted a genetic analysis of a particular type of cancer cell to learn more about the genetic process involved in causing an increase in expression of PD-L1.

The team conducted whole-genome sequencing on samples given by 49 adult patients suffering from leukemia or lymphoma, looking specifically for variations that might account for an increase in expression of PD-L1. In so doing, they found that variations such as duplications, inversions or translocations in 13 of the samples, representing 27 percent of those tested, existed on a certain part of chromosome 9, which prior research had found was the part of the genome responsible for the expression of PD-L1. They report that such alterations seemed to cut off the gene’s 3’ untranslated region of the protein and in some cases led to rearranging the gene’s open reading frame, which allowed more of the protein to be expressed.

Continue reading “Genetic variants isolated that lead to enhanced PD-L1 protein production in cancer cells” »

“The possibility to selectively activate genes using various engineered variants of the CRISPR-Cas9 system left many researchers questioning which of the available synthetic activating Cas9 proteins to use for their purposes. The main challenge was that all had been uniquely designed and tested in different settings; there was no side-by-side comparison of their relative potentials,” said George Church, Ph.D., who is Core Faculty Member at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, leader of its Synthetic Biology Platform, and Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School. “We wanted to provide that side-by-side comparison to the biomedical research community.”

In a study published on 23 May in Nature Methods, the Wyss Institute team reports how it rigorously compared and ranked the most commonly used artificial Cas9 activators in different cell types from organisms including humans, mice and flies. The findings provide a valuable guide to researchers, allowing them to streamline their endeavors.

The team also included Wyss Core Faculty Member James Collins, Ph.D., who also is the Termeer Professor of Medical Engineering & Science and Professor of Biological Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)’s Department of Biological Engineering and Norbert Perrimon, Ph.D., a Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School.

Continue reading “A Guide to CRISPR Gene Activation” »

Oct4, a gene, thought to be inactive in adults, may actually play a vital role in preventing heart attacks and strokes and could also delay some of the effects of ageing, scientists have found. They said the gene could also prove critical in the field of regenerative medicine.

Representative photo.

Establishing the trend. Q-dot technology will be in all displays soon.

“Samsung Electronics will skip commercializing OLED for TVs and ho straight to QLED technology, perhaps as soon as 2009. Its strategy is to continue to develop its quantum-dot TVs, which are its current major products, and prepare to commercialize QLED technologies during this time.”

Read More at ET News

Continue reading “Samsung Electronics To Skip OLED TV And Go Straight To QLED TV” »

AR for plastic surgery.

ILLUSIO, the next generation in computer imaging for plastic surgery, will be presenting at the 2016 Virtual Reality Summit in Seoul, South Korea on June 22. The conference is expected to attract thousands of people interested in the latest applications for virtual reality and augmented reality.

ILLUSIO CEO Ethan Winner will present the Company’s use of augmented reality for plastic surgery imaging. ILLUSIO combines the latest in 3D augmented reality technology with real-time morphing animation, providing a platform for plastic surgeons and their patients to visually communicate.

Continue reading “ILLUSIO to Present at 2016 Virtual Reality Summit in Seoul, South Korea” »

Father of VR worried.

One might think that Jaron Lanier would be elated right now.

More than 30 years after his pioneering work in virtual reality, VR finally appears to be on the verge of becoming a mass market phenomenon. Major companies are investing in the technology; high-profile products are hitting store shelves; and developers of all sorts are creating VR experiences.

Continue reading “Wolverton: VR’s father worried about technology’s future” »

Got to luv this.

Is this brand new type of battery the key to clean energy and off-grid electricity?

Lithium-ion batteries are having a moment. After becoming the de facto battery in laptops and cell phones over the years, they’re now starting to power electric cars (like those made by Tesla) and plug into the power grid.

Continue reading “A Battery Made From Metal and Air Is Electrifying the Developing World” »

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